Often, we see behaviors of concern when there are skill deficits. If a child cannot communicate their wants and needs or emotions, they are going to use different behaviors to address them. Some behaviors are age-appropriate and it can be hard to tell the difference. At Northern Lights, we seek to understand the why behind the behavior, to teach the skills needed to reduce and change the behavior, and to help parents with interventions that align with ABA and work for them.

During the initial assessment or at the beginning of services, your BCBA will complete a Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA) to help determine the why behind the challenging behaviors and to identify interventions/strategies, replacement behaviors, and adaptive skills to address the behavior. The BCBA will talk with you about the strategies and skills, so that parents and caregivers have input.

Common behaviors that may occur include tantrums/meltdowns, self-injurious behaviors, physical aggression, property disruption/destruction, and task refusal.